Meet Kentmere 200: A New Budget B&W & Beginner-Friendly Film From Harman

We’re excited to welcome another film release from Harman - this time, it’s Kentmere in the spotlight! Expanding on their popular black and white lineup, Harman launches Kentmere 200: now available in 35mm, 120 and 35mm bulk rolls formats. The addition completes the Kentmere family of films, giving analogue photographers even more choice when it comes to shooting this affordable emulsion; sitting neatly between the existing Kentmere 100 and Kentmere 400. But what makes Kentmere 200 unique, and how does it stand apart from its siblings?

What is Kentmere 200?

Kentmere PAN 200 is the latest release from Harman Technology in the UK, the brains behind Ilford Photo which we all know and love for the likes of popular film stocks - Ilford HP5, Ilford FP4, and much more. As an off-shoot from Harman, the Kentmere range promises an affordable black and white shooting experience, whilst retaining enough quality and versatility to produce great analogue images. The addition of a 200-speed film allows the community to enjoy a faster film shot directly from box speed without any alterations (like pushing and pulling).

Kentmere PAN 200 35mm film

Kentmere 200 is an ISO 200, panchromatic black and white film, with increased contrast, fine grain and quality sharpness, making it ideal for shooting most conditions with good light. This new stock is available in various formats: 35mm (both 24 and 36 exposures), 120 medium format, and 35mm bulk rolls. Kentmere PAN 200 reflects the same, affordable price point as its sister films - Kentmere PAN 100 and Kentmere PAN 400 - so you can enjoy shooting the range without worrying about breaking the bank.

Sitting perfectly between its ISO 100 and ISO 400 counterparts, Kentmere 200 completes the product range and was specially created following a demand for a ‘more contrasty’ look. The Kentmere family of films can now compete with the likes of Czech brand FOMA - which is favoured by the community for its affordable, high-contrast B&W films - whilst Harman have the advantage of creating and finishing their films from scratch in their UK factory, promising consistent results. It’s a great choice for B&W enthusiasts using point and shoot film cameras too, as many of these models default to ISO 200 when they can’t read DX codes.

Kentmere 100 vs 200 vs 400: How Do They Compare?

So, what actually is the difference between the Kentmere films? Whilst each of them have varying characteristics and recommended uses, the main difference is the ISO or film speed - meaning their sensitivity to light.

• Kentmere PAN 100, which has fine grain, medium contrast and high sharpness, is best for shooting in bright conditions.
• Kentmere PAN 200, which has a balanced speed and high contrast, is a solid all rounder for well-lit indoor or outdoor environments.
• Kentmere PAN 400, which has higher grain, medium contrast and a wide exposure latitude, is ideal for low light and action shots.

The complete Kentmere range of films: 100, 200 and 400; in 35mm, 120 and 35mm bulk roll formats.

Typically, Kentmere 100 and 400 have a softer look with medium contrast, whereas Kentmere 200 has been crafted with high contrast in mind, giving film shooters the opportunity to enhance their monochrome images with bright whites and bold blacks (more pronounced highlights and shadows). ISO 400 films are generally the best option for shooting in various conditions, since the medium-speed offers an extra few stops of light. But if you’re looking to shoot on a lovely sunny day, then opting for an ISO 100 or 200 speed film will yield brilliant, crisp results.

One of the brilliant things about our community is their willingness to share their experience trying out these films. On shooting Kentmere 100 35mm, Ben Tarrant said: “With the cost of film ever-rising, Kentmere offers a strong lineup of affordable B&W stocks. I found the 100 to be flexible with a really pleasing grain structure that Analogue Wonderland then developed and scanned really well. Cannot recommend this film enough for beginners or the budget conscious.”

Shot by © Ben Tarrant on Kentmere 100 35mm film

Reviewer Luca Clarke shot Kentmere 400 35mm film and shared: “I love this film, it's easy to use and beginner friendly. It can cope in many different lighting situations which is great for travelling and exploring. Nice and cheap and it's my go to black and white film!”

Shot by © Luca Clarke on Kentmere 400 35mm film

For some, Kentmere films are used for testing purposes but quickly become a new favourite, such as with Stephen Young and Kentmere 400 120 film: “First Kentmere film I’ve tried 🤓 For a ‘cheaper’ film, it packs a lotta punch 🥊 Well done to all at AW 🤩 I hold you truly responsible for this new love affair with Kentmere. (Not forgetting your perfect service) 💘”

Shot by © Stephen Young on Kentmere 400 120 film

Our Experience Shooting & Processing Kentmere 200

We love this part of a new product launch: testing out films before they’re released! A few of our team had the privilege of trying Kentmere 200 for the first time, shooting a range of locations/subjects. Here’s what they had to say about the experience…

Shot by © Amy Farrer in Marlow on Kentmere 200 35mm, Olympus OM10

I shot a 35mm roll of Kentmere 200 along the river and in Marlow town. It was a really bright, sunny day so I aimed to capture the harsh shadows, bright skies and foliage, and seek out the lines and textures of spring. It has a subtle amount of grain and provides that perfect vintage look. Personally, I haven’t shot Kentmere since my college days where it was sold in the art shop as the most affordable option for students. At the time, I felt it was quite flat, grey and lacked contrast, and since I associated it with my college days, I haven’t been compelled to shoot another roll. However, Kentmere 200 has totally changed my mind! At £5-£6 a roll, it’s a no brainer and I’ll definitely be purchasing a few rolls to test out some of my cameras.

Shot by © Tom Hoddinott at Vengaworld London on Kentmere 200 35mm, Minolta x-300

Our Warehouse Manager, Tom Hoddinott said: “I shot a roll of 35mm Kentmere 200 at a car show in London. It was quite an overcast day and I like the contrast that it brought to my photos. With the bad lighting, I feared the photos would be flat but they were brought to life. I think this film is great and I think I will be using this a lot in the future.”

Shot by © Bhavneet Bhoday at Mount Snowdon on Kentmere 200 35mm, Canon EOS 100

Our Darkroom Technician, Bhavneet Bhoday said: “The roll of Kentmere 200 35mm film I shot was definitely a surprise. I did not think it would’ve been this amazing. I shot the film using my Canon EOS 100 whilst climbing up Mount Snowdon capturing the texture of the rocks, the steps forming the mountain and its path. I really like the film and I love the contrast it gives. It’s not too grainy which is good as I don’t like grainy images so this works for me. I would definitely recommend it to all film shooters to at least shoot it once. I will be purchasing more of this film for sure!”

Shot by © Alex Hayes at Cassiobury Park on Kentmere 200 120, Yashica Mat 124G

Our Lab Assistant, Alex Hayes said: “Having been woken up early but not by choice, I decided to take my Yashica Mat 124G and a brand new roll of Kentmere Pan 200 120 to Cassiobury Park in Watford. In the fantastic weather over the past few weeks, the beautiful park is normally packed with families and people enjoying the sun. Arriving before the car park gates even opened, I wanted to try and capture the stillness and serenity under the giant old trees, including the famous ‘Lebanon Tree’. I found a park empty of people, but strewn with the remains of interactions with people during the day, be it rides, routes, or rubbish. My first time shooting Kentmere Pan 200, I loved the way the film captured the tones of nature under the morning light. Definitely a film I would shoot in an urban environment as well.”

All these rolls were developed using standard B&W processing in our WonderLab, with Ilfosol 3 in the Jobo ATL-1500. Since we didn’t have the recommended development times pre-launch, we based it on that of Kentmere 100 and 400 and opted for 8 minutes. In that case, please bear in mind that the images above may not necessarily reflect the “perfect look”. Harman has since released their development times, which is helpful for home development. It’s worth noting that the longer this film is developed for, the more contrast it will add to your images. So if you’re a fan of high-contrast black and white images, this film is one to try!

Who Is Kentmere 200 For?

Kentmere films are always recommended for their affordability, making them ideal for a number of uses. They’re often used in the educational sector due to their low cost, so are favoured by students and budget-conscious film shooters. Additionally, if you have a film camera to test and don’t want to spend too much on a roll of film, the Kentmere range is a good place to start. For film photography beginners, these emulsions are an easy gateway into B&W analogue photography, since they’re pretty forgiving and flexible; helping you to find your feet with film. And if you’re a Kentmere super-fan and enjoy shooting black and white all day long or have some long-term projects or experiments to work towards, you can opt for the bulk roll option.

It’s no surprise that Kentmere 100 and 400 are some of our best-selling 35mm films!

In terms of aesthetic, Kentmere 200 adds more contrast to your images, whilst still promising great quality images at a very reasonable price. Now the Kentmere collection is complete, this makes it even easier to choose a film that matches your preferred style, depending on your chosen subject or lighting condition. So, what’s not to like?

Where to Buy Kentmere 200

We're pleased to stock Kentmere PAN 200 in both 35mm and 120 formats from launch! You can choose from both 24 and 36 exposures in 35mm, both of which are ideal for everyday, affordable shooting. Kentmere 200 is the same price as Kentmere 100 and 400 - just £5/£6 for a 35mm roll and £6 for a medium format 120 roll.

If you like what you see, we also have a range of bundles exclusive to Analogue Wonderland! You can purchase Kentmere 200 35mm and 120 films in bundles of 5, or you can try the whole collection with our Kentmere 35mm Range Bundle - featuring 3 x Kentmere PAN 200, 1 x Kentmere PAN 100 and 1 x Kentmere PAN 400. We hope to get some more 120 across the range in stock soon too, plus Kentmere 200 bulk roll for you avid 35mm shooters!

So, grab a roll (or 5!) and experience what this new black and white emulsion has to offer. We’re pleased to have you, Kentmere 200 🫶